Dashboard Regions Weather Stations Radar Alerts Glossary
Contact About
Log In

Register for an account and never miss a forecast again!

Register

Avalanche Forecast

Archived

Mar 26th, 2023–Mar 27th, 2023

Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Alpine
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely.

Regions

Northwest Inland, Kispiox, Microwave-Sinclair, Ningunsaw, Ningunsaw, South Bulkley, South Bulkley, Telkwa.

Tune in to the changing conditions of elevation, aspect, and time of day.

Be cautious in steep, rocky and wind-affected terrain where triggering a slab is most likely. Avoid steep sun-exposed slopes and overhead hazards during periods of strong sun.

Confidence

Moderate

Avalanche Summary

On Friday, a few large (size 2) glide slab avalanche releases occurred and noted cracking and buckling was observed on know areas with basal rock slab features. A few ridgetop cornice failures occurred that tested slopes below with no slab release.

If you head out in the backcountry, let us know what you are seeing by submitting a report to the Mountain Information Network.

Snowpack Summary

Variable winds have built wind slabs on exposed terrain features near ridgetop. Below 1800 m moist snow or a refrozen melt freeze crust covers the surface. The crust extends up to 2000 m on solar aspects. During periods of daytime warming surfaces on all aspects below 1300 m are becoming unconsolidated and moist. Above this elevation only direct solar aspects are affected by the sun.

The middle of the snowpack is strong and contains numerous hard crusts.

The lower snowpack is composed of weak basal facets. This layer has produced limited recent avalanche activity, however it can quickly become active again with any significant change to the snowpack, such as rapid loading (heavy snowfall or rain) or prolonged and extensive warming.

Weather Summary

Sunday night

Clear with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures drop to a low of -10 °C. Ridge wind east 10 to 25 km/h. Freezing level at valley bottom.

Monday

Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of -5 °C. Ridge wind light from the east. Freezing level rises to 1000 metres.

Tuesday

Sunny. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind 15 to 30 km/h from the northeast. Freezing level rises to 2100 metres.

Wednesday

Sunny with cloudy periods. Alpine temperatures reach a high of 2 °C. Ridge wind north 10-25 km/h. Freezing level rises to 1500 metres.

More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.

Terrain and Travel Advice

  • Be carefull around freshly wind loaded features.
  • Avoid thin areas like rock outcroppings where you're most likely to trigger avalanches failing on deep weak layers.
  • Remember that in the spring strong solar radiation and warm temperatures can weaken the snow in a matter of minutes.
  • Pay attention to cornices and give them a wide berth when traveling on or below ridges.

Problems

Wind Slabs

Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.

Deep Persistent Slabs

Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.

Loose Wet

Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.